Letter Home: August 17, 2008

{Whoa!!! I wrote a blog a year ago... I should go back and see what I said... I bet I sound a bit more positive in 2008 :) }

Letter Home August 17, 2008

Let's catch up!!!

First! Let's backtrack to the end of April.

I worked on a Peace Corps Small Enterprise Development Trainer manual (finished it and it is over 100 pages long!!!). I am currently working on editing the manual as I go through the Pre-Service Training with the new trainees (there are 75 of them but only 17 are Small Enterprise Development). I worked with the Full Belly Project, sorta. I went to a training they were having on how to make a Universal Nut-Sheller that can be used with jatropha seeds, shea nuts, and many others nuts/seeds (café, brazilian nuts, neems, peanuts, etc). Did a couple more Junior Achievement classes and prepared for a busy May!!!

Let's take a look at busy May!!! Fun in the sun and too much work to do before America!!! Junior Achievement classes (2 classes in one week aka 10 one hour sessions), shea butter training (had 15 Malian women and 11 volunteers in my small village for three days), women association meetings, and finish writing a training manual; don't forget, preparing for a whirlwind vacation to America!!!

Second,

America was great! My mother, brothers, and myself went skydiving in Jacksonville, FL. My mother and I are now ready to start our own Bucket List! First, jump out of a plane! Second, white-water rafting then the Appalachian Trail, then scuba-diving, then… You get the idea. Also took a weekend trip to Panama City plus I visited many of my closest friends in Americus and in Statesboro, GA. Had a blast at RYLA '08!!! More coming on that later!!! It was great to see everyone and see how things will always continue to proceed with or without you. So there is no reason to put your life on hold!!! I thank you all your continued support and love throughout my Peace Corps service. Many of you were able to have a few minutes with me and share our lives once again… One person in particular had a lasting impression on my time in America.

(Ben and AJ Kooti at my going away party June 2007)

Ben Stallings attended RYLA '08 as a counselor with me and took time out in Statesboro to have lunch with me. He was an amazing guy, always the gentleman with a witty sense-humor. He encouraged me throughout my first year of Peace Corps service and gave me advice… "relax and chill whenever the opportunity presented itself." I will greatly miss him especially his smile. RIP and thank you.

~ ~ ~

My time in Mali since my vacation has went by fast! I arrived in country on the same day as the new group of Peace Corps volunteers (technically they are trainees until September 12th which is when they swear-in). I have been working as the Small Enterprise Development PCV Trainer. We have sessions about our Sector Project Plan and how one can implement projects at site whether it be with Microfinance, Artisans, Tourism, agricultural products, while providing themwith a few essential skills to get them through their first three months before they have another training in January 2009 that is completely focused on technical skills that will help them through their two years of service.

I spend a week to two weeks at the training facility and then go to Bamako for a day or two. I am busy going to sessions, meetings, and/or the trainees' villages to do overview sessions or presentations. It is time-consuming and amazing!!! When I get the chance, I rush to my village for a day or two… I went to my village and found that termites had decided to invade my house!!! However my homologue (my Malian counterpart that I work with) discovered this and saved my wooden shelves and all my bedsheets that were covering my belongings. He placed pesticide all along the walls and was pretty much my hero for the weekend! My little baby at my house was so excited to see me!!! She wouldn't let me put her down for the rest of the day. I just love that little girl! She turned a year old in May 2008.

However, I am not only working with the new group of Peace Corps Trainees. I am also working on Junior Achievement (making a presentation for the Ministry of Education),

Global Entrepreneurship Week (gonna do a bike-a-thon November 17-23, 2008 and conduct presentations about Entrepreneurship, Junior Achievement, and HIV/AIDS in over 8 villages), Mini-Entreprise (the high school level Junior Achievement program; the goal is to have them compete against the Bamako high school clubs during the Global entrepreneurship week activities),

shea butter (trying to sell my women's assocation nuts/butter),

and How-to-Swim/Water Rescue Project (working with two other volunteers, we are trying to raise $4000 to train over maybe 50 or so Emergency Responders).

SIGH..whoa!!!

So that is a quick update!!! I look forward to hearing from you!!! Send an email anytime you feel like it!!! Take care and stay safe!